THOMAS
M. STANGER was born around 1861 to Jason B. and Mary Stanger. His early
years were spent in Salem NJ, where, at the time of the 1870 Census.
Jason Stanger was employed as a glassblower. The family moved to Camden
around 1873, and settled in the area around Broadway Methodist Church,
where they became members. The 1880 Census shows that Mrs. Stanger had
passed away. Jason B. Stanger, now a bookkeeper, was living at 423 South
5th Street with his four children, Howard, a law student, Thomas, then
employed as a tinsmith, Harry, a watchcase maker, and Leonora, who was
still in school.

By
1887 Jason Stanger no longer appears in the Camden City Directories.
Howard Stanger was now a lawyer, and the family was living at 520 Royden
Street when the 1887-1888 Camden City Directory was compiled. Later in
1888 the family moved to 634 Berkley Street. Thomas M. Stanger worked as
a listed his occupation as clerk then as "produce" in
the directories. In June of 1893 Thomas Stanger married Ida Woodfield,
whose father Joseph managed a scrap iron concern. By the mid 1900s he
was managing the feed and flour store of Joseph Middleton, at South 5th
and Royden
Streets. The Stangers were living at 414 Chambers
Avenue by
1910.

Around
1907 Mayor Charles Ellis
appointed Thomas M. Stanger to the police force of the City of Camden. He
served as clerk to Mayor Ellis,
to Chief James E. Tatem and to the Detective Bureau of Camden's police
force. During his time in service he rose to the rank of sergeant. He
established the department's first photographic gallery of criminals and
was in charge of criminal records for years. He also became a
fingerprint expert before retiring in January of 1933 due to ill health.

Socially,
Thomas M. Stanger was a thirty-second degree Mason, and was a past
master of Trimble
Lodge, No. 117 Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member of
Excelsior Consistory, the Ninth Ward Republican Club, and was secretary
of the Police Beneficial Association.

The
Stangers had moved to the suburbs to live with their daughter, Mrs.
Catherine Madera by 1930. His health declined rapidly after his
retirement. On October 14, 1933 Thomas M. Stanger died at West
Jersey Homeopathic Hospital in Camden. He was survived by his wife,
daughter, brother Harry, and a grand-daughter.

The
Camden Police Department provided an honorary escort at his funeral,
which was held at the Joseph H. Murray & Sons funeral home at 406
Cooper Street, and at his interment, at Harleigh Cemetery in
Camden.